Auditory and Visual User Interface for Optical Guidance During Stereotactic Brain Tumor Biopsies

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Stereotactic brain tumor biopsies utilize protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) for tumor identification and hemorrhage risk reduction.
• Current methods require surgeons to divert visual focus from the surgical site to read measurement values, necessitating verbal relay by an assistant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally evaluate a novel auditory and visual user interface (UI) designed to provide real-time feedback during stereotactic brain tumor biopsies.
• To assess the accuracy, intuitiveness, and user acceptance of the developed UI.

Main Methods:

• A user study involving 15 participants was conducted to evaluate the UI.
• Function response tests were used to determine the accuracy of auditory and visual feedback.
• User acceptance was assessed through questionnaires and qualitative feedback.

Main Results:

• Auditory signals were found to be intuitive, easily recognizable, and memorable.
• The visual display of measurement values was clear, aiding the surgeon's decision-making process.
• The developed UI demonstrated high user acceptance.

Conclusions:

• The novel auditory and visual UI significantly improves real-time feedback during stereotactic brain tumor biopsies.
• This UI enhances procedural efficiency and surgeon confidence by providing intuitive and accurate measurement data.
• The developed interface shows promise for wider adoption in neurosurgical procedures.